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which disco engine do i get???

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bobtailed disco:
hi all

looking at a disco 4 a m8 which one is the better engine the 3.9 4.2 or the 4.6 v8. i no one is prone to problems but cant remember which one
many thanks

Rob

Range Rover Blues:
Depending who you ask they all are.  The 3.9 was the mainstay of the RRC and later Disco, some had problems with the water jacket and failed but TBH the age they are now they're either fine or bust long ago.

The 4.2 is a 3.9 with the Iceberg crank in it, all the sensors, injector etc are the same but you'll need the 4.2 (LSE or Autobiography) ECU for it and they still command a lot of cash second hand, alomost worth fitting a Tornado chip.  Lots of LSE engines have done starship mileage too and quite a few suffered "porous block".  Again if it's still going it's probably ok 'till it just wears out.

4.6 would be nice, the crank is stronger, the heads better and the best blocks were selected for the 4.6 to prevent block failure, although I've read reviews that claim the HP24 gearbox held the 4.6 at low revs in high gears for economy which causes uneven heating of the liner, leading to block failure.

Anyhoo, to fit a 4.6 to an older car you need to do a bit of work.  The front cover will fit but you need a spacer on the crank and a new camshaft to drive the dizzy, or fit the (rare) interim V8 front end from 300 series RRC or Disco.  These have the better crank driven oil pump and last that bit better because of it, though a new pump means a new front cover=big bucks.

It's more a matter of finding a good engine that is worth the money.  As a guide the 3.9 was 185BHP, the 4.2 199BHP and the 4.6, well it was never fitted with the 14CUX EFi system as standard.

bobtailed disco:
thanks for that.

i have found a nice 4.6 disco 2000 (W) with lpg done it has done 86,000 miles but had a new engine fitted at 70,000. up for £4000 what is that like price wise.

many thanks
rob

Range Rover Blues:
On that age it should be multipoint and the engine cost more than half that amount.  I guess it's a lot of car for not too much money but values are all over the place, my Micra is worth a lot more than it was 6 months ago.

Best thing would be to look on Autotrader and see what the going rate is but if it's nice and solid and you plan on keeping it then it's not a bad price.

bobtailed disco:
ok cheers for that will prob go and have a look at it 2 mor

Thanks
Rob

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